Public bodies must publish information and citizens can request it

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The law has three goals: expand transparency in public activity, guarantee the right of access to public information, and set good governance duties for public officials, with penalties if they are not met.
2. Covered entities must regularly publish information about their organization, plans, internal rules, contracts, agreements, subsidies, budgets and the pay of senior officials. All of this is gathered in the Portal de la Transparencia (Transparency Portal).
3. Anyone can request access to public information without having to explain why. The administration must respond within one month at most, and access is free, except for copies or format changes.
4. Access has limits: national security, defense, personal data protection and other interests. If a limit only affects part of the information, partial access is granted with the protected part removed.
5. If access is denied, you can file a claim with the Consejo de Transparencia y Buen Gobierno (Transparency and Good Governance Council) before going to court. This independent body also monitors compliance with active publication duties.
6. Senior officials must follow good governance principles, such as not accepting gifts beyond customary social ones or using their position for personal gain. Very serious offenses can lead to removal from office and a ban on holding senior positions for five to ten years.

Who it affects

• All Spanish public administrations and public sector entities, including universities and companies with more than 50% public capital: They must publish information regularly and answer access requests.
• Political parties, unions, business organizations and private entities receiving significant public funding: They must publish their contracts, agreements and subsidies received from public administrations.
• Any citizen: Can request public information without giving reasons and file a claim if denied.
• Government members and senior officials at all levels: Must follow good governance principles and face penalties if they do not.

Words worth knowing

Publicidad activa (active publication)

The duty to publish information on your own initiative, without waiting for someone to ask for it.

Silencio administrativo (administrative silence)

If the administration does not answer in time, the request is considered denied.

Reclamación potestativa (optional claim)

An optional step before the Transparency Council, available before going to court.

Datos especialmente protegidos (specially protected data)

Highly sensitive personal data, such as health, ideology or religion, which can only be disclosed with the person's consent.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries